Being polite and expressing gratitude are universally appreciated gestures that can help foster positive interactions and build connections across cultures. Whether you’re traveling to a different country or simply want to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, knowing how to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in different languages can go a long way. In this guide, we will explore the formal and informal ways to express gratitude and politeness in various languages, along with tips and examples to enhance your understanding.
Table of Contents
1. Spanish
Please:
- Formal: Por favor
- Informal: Porfa or Porfis (used between friends or family)
Thank You:
- Formal/Informal: Gracias
In Spain, you may also come across ‘Muchas gracias’ or ‘Mil gracias,’ which are ways to express extra appreciation.
2. French
Please:
- Formal: S’il vous plaît
- Informal: S’il te plaît
Thank You:
- Formal: Merci
- Informal: Merci beaucoup
Although ‘Merci’ is commonly used and understood in both formal and informal contexts, adding ‘beaucoup’ (which means ‘a lot’) conveys greater gratitude.
3. German
Please:
- Formal: Bitte
- Informal: Bitte or Bitte schön
Thank You:
- Formal/Informal: Danke
‘Danke schön’ or ‘Vielen Dank’ can be used to express extra appreciation.
4. Italian
Please:
- Formal: Per favore
- Informal: Per favore or Per piacere
Thank You:
- Formal/Informal: Grazie
‘Grazie mille’ is a common way to say ‘thank you very much.’
5. Mandarin Chinese
Please:
- Formal: 请 (qǐng)
- Informal: 请 (qǐng) or 麻烦你 (má fan nǐ) – literally translated as ‘trouble you’
Thank You:
- Formal/Informal: 谢谢 (xiè xiè)
Alternatively, you can also use ‘非常谢谢’ (fēi cháng xiè xiè) to convey ‘thank you very much.’
6. Japanese
Please:
- Formal: お願いします (Onegaishimasu)
- Informal: お願い (Onegai) or ちょっとお願い (Chotto onegai)
Thank You:
- Formal/Informal: ありがとう (Arigatō)
For expressing deep gratitude, you can use ‘ありがとうございます’ (Arigatō gozaimasu) or ‘どうもありがとうございます’ (Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu).
7. Russian
Please:
- Formal/Informal: Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta)
Thank You:
- Formal/Informal: Спасибо (Spasibo)
‘Большое спасибо’ (Bol’shoye spasibo) can be used to express ‘thank you very much.’
8. Arabic
Please:
- Formal: من فضلك (Min fadlak)
- Informal: بليز (Blēz) or لو سمحت (Law samaht)
Thank You:
- Formal: شكرًا (Shukran)
- Informal: ميرسي (Merci) or شكراً جزيلاً (Shukran jazeelan)
‘ألف شكر’ (Alf shukr) can be used to express ‘thank you very much.’
9. Portuguese
Please:
- Formal: Por favor
- Informal: Por favor or Faz favor
Thank You:
- Formal/Informal: Obrigado (if the speaker is male), Obrigada (if the speaker is female)
‘Muito obrigado’ or ‘Muito obrigada’ can be used to convey ‘thank you very much.’
10. Hindi
Please:
- Formal/Informal: कृपया (Kripayā)
Thank You:
- Formal/Informal: धन्यवाद (Dhanyavād)
‘बहुत धन्यवाद’ (Bahut dhanyavād) can be used to express ‘thank you very much.’
In some cases, regional variations or dialects may exist within a language. It’s always worth considering the specific context and adapting accordingly. Additionally, body language and gestures can also be significant cultural factors in conveying politeness and gratitude.
Remember, being polite is not restricted to mere words. As you interact with individuals from different cultural backgrounds, it’s essential to approach conversations with an open mind, respect, and cultural sensitivity. Learning a few key phrases in their language can be a great way to show your appreciation for their culture.
By embracing the diversity of languages and cultures, we can forge stronger connections and build a more inclusive global community.
Now that you have an extensive guide on how to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in multiple languages, why not expand your language skills and explore more phrases? The world is filled with fascinating languages waiting to be discovered!
